What Is So Special About a French Press? (Solved & Explained!)

French press coffee is renowned for being one of the best tasting coffee methods, producing coffee with a strong, bodied, distinct taste. This is because of the method of steeping coffee grounds directly in water for several minutes to extract all the flavors. This method gives you complete control over your coffee strength to make your perfect brew every time.

Here we will explore the popularity of French press coffee, what makes it special, why coffee made in a French press tastes better, and compare it to other methods.

Why Is French Press So Popular?

The rich, distinct, aromatic flavors of French press coffee are what make it special in comparison to other methods. You can be more involved in the coffee making process and have complete control over the strength and taste of your brew. French press is a simple and easy device which allows you to make barista-style coffee at home.

What is Special About the Taste of French Press Coffee?

French press uses a mesh filter which means coffee grounds have direct contact with hot water for several minutes. This method extracts as many oils, aromas, and substances from the coffee grounds as possible. Nothing is filtered out, leading to a rich, bodied, robust coffee flavor. The roast used and steeping time can be altered to suit your tastes.

What Is a French Press?

A French press is simply a coffee press, or you might know it as a cafetière. It is an immersion coffee brewing device made up of a glass beaker/carafe, a lid with a metal plunger and a stainless-steel mesh filter. You can purchase them for around $10 to suit any budget, with high-end versions also available.

How Do You Make Great Tasting Coffee in a French Press?

1. Place coffee grinds into the beaker.
2. Boil water and set aside for 30 seconds to cool.
3. Pour enough water to evenly cover the grounds.
4. Let them bloom for 30 seconds.
5. Pour the remaining hot water and stir.
6. Put on lid and leave to steep for around 4 minutes.
7. Press plunger down to bottom.

How Long Does Coffee Brew in a French Press?

Coffee usually steeps in a French press for between 3 and 6 minutes. 4 minutes is the recommended amount of time that coffee should brew for to extract all the flavors without becoming over-extracted and bitter tasting. If you prefer stronger coffee, you could brew closer to the 6-minute mark.

Does a French Press Bloom Coffee Better?

As coffee beans are roasted, they release gas, and continue to degas. Once the grounds come into contact with hot water this gas quickly releases and repels water. Letting coffee bloom for around 30 seconds allows this gas to release and the water to flow through more freely.

French presses are one of the best methods for blooming coffee. The initial bloom followed by the prolonged contact with water means that more of this gas is released from the grounds than with other methods. This means that fresh coffee beans which have not already degassed so much can be used, adding more flavor to the coffee.

What Beans Should I Use in a French Press?

French presses are incredibly versatile, you can use any type of coffee bean and roast in it. Some methods which brew coffee quickly are more suited to darker roasts as they have less time to extract flavors. Yet a French press can pull all the fruity flavors from a light roast as well as the richness from a dark roast.

What Are the Benefits of French Press Coffee?

Taste

• The main pro of French press coffee is the taste – the saturation of the grounds leads to rich, aromatic, delicious coffee, no matter which roast you use.
• You have complete control over the strength and taste of your brew by choosing how long to steep it for, the water-to-coffee ratio and the roast.

Method

• All French presses can make several cups of coffee at a time, which is convenient for guests.
• Some people enjoy being involved in the coffee making process and having more control.

Sustainability

• French presses use metal filters which last for years, rather than disposable paper ones.
• The press itself is also made of metal and glass which last years and do not create any waste.

Is French Press Coffee Good for You?

French press coffee is unfiltered, which does have a range of health benefits such as higher levels of antioxidants in the coffee. For French press coffee you usually grind beans yourself, so they are fresh, high-quality and do not have any impurities added to them.

However, this means that a French press does not filter out any harmful substances such as cafestol which can raise cholesterol. French press coffee also contains more caffeine than other methods which when consumed in excess can cause health issues.

Is French Press Better Than Pour Over?

French press coffee uses a metal filter, whereas pour over coffee uses a paper filter. French press has a stronger, more distinct taste from the steeping method than pour over coffee. French press is a more popular option for those who enjoy unfiltered coffee with a richer taste. It is also more eco-friendly.

Is French Press Better Than Drip Coffee?

Drip coffee machines are similar to the pour over method, yet they are automatic. This makes them more convenient than a French press, as you do not have to manually bloom and plunge the coffee. Yet they will make the same brew each time, and French presses are popular due to the taste and control over the brew.

Is French Press Better Than Espresso Coffee?

French presses are more versatile than espresso machines, are a lot cheaper, and can use different kinds of roasts. Espresso coffee is made using a darker roast as the grounds are plunged through water very quickly, but a French press can be used by those who prefer a light roast too.